Signing a Joint Divorce Application: Who Signs and How

When two spouses agree that the marriage is over and agree on the practical arrangements, a joint application can feel like the simplest way to finish the divorce. Instead of one person starting the case and the other responding, you ask the court together. The paperwork still has to be done carefully, and people often wonder who signs what, and whether a commissioner is involved.

This article walks through how signing and filing generally work. The exact signing steps for a joint application depend on the court's own instructions for the form, so use this as a map and confirm the details against the current checklist on the Ontario court forms website or with a lawyer.

What a joint application is

Form 8A is the application used for a simple divorce-only application or a joint application. How a joint application is structured, and what each spouse has to do, depends on the court's instructions for the form, so it is worth confirming with a lawyer.

Before you sign anything, the basic legal requirements still apply. The Divorce Act lets a court grant a divorce when the marriage has broken down, which is usually shown by living separate and apart for at least one year immediately before the determination. At least one spouse must also have been habitually resident in Ontario for at least one year immediately before the proceeding starts. The court must also be satisfied that reasonable arrangements have been made for the support of any children of the marriage.

Who signs, and is commissioning needed?

The general rule for online family filings is that documents must be completed, signed, dated and commissioned as required. The words "as required" matter. Which parts of a joint divorce package need to be sworn or affirmed in front of a commissioner, and which only need a signature, is set out in the instructions that come with the forms.

How the signing works for a joint application is worth confirming before you start. If you are unsure whether a document needs a commissioner, or who signs which part, check the joint divorce checklist on the Ontario court forms website, or ask a lawyer before you sign.

• Read each form's instructions to see whether it must be sworn or affirmed.
• Sign and date every place the form asks for a signature.
• Have documents commissioned where required, in front of a person authorized to do so.
• Keep a copy of every signed page for your own records.

Preparing the finished package

Online filing works with individual files. Each document should be saved as its own PDF or Word file. That means you should scan signed pages cleanly, name each file clearly, and avoid merging unrelated documents into one large file.

You will also need an Ontario.ca Login to file online. Set it up before you are ready to file, since you do not want to be sorting out an account while a deadline approaches. Note that online filing is not available for an urgent hearing, or when a court date or legal deadline is 3 business days or less away.

• Both spouses have reviewed the completed forms and agree on what they say.
• Every form is signed and dated, and commissioned where required.
• Each document is saved as its own PDF or Word file.
• Someone has an Ontario.ca Login ready for the filing.
• You know how you will pay the fees (see below).

Filing and paying

Since 14 October 2025, family filings for the Toronto region must be made on the Ontario Courts Public Portal. Outside Toronto, filings go through Family Submissions Online, part of Justice Services Online. Sessions time out after 40 minutes on the Toronto portal and 20 minutes on Family Submissions Online, which allows you to save a draft.

Fees can be changed by regulation, so confirm them when you file. If the filing is accepted, you get an email and the status changes to Approved. If it is rejected, your card is not charged, and you can fix the problem and resubmit.

What to do next

Sit down together and go through the forms line by line before anyone signs. Make sure the arrangements for supporting your children are real and workable, because the court must be satisfied that reasonable arrangements have been made for their support. If anything about property, support or pensions is still unsettled, get legal advice before you sign, since signing a joint application is a significant step.

• Confirm the signing and commissioning steps in the court's current checklist.
• Create your Ontario.ca Login early.
• Prepare individual PDF or Word files for every document.
• Budget for the filing fee and the federal $10 fee.
• Ask a lawyer if you are unsure about any unresolved issue.

Frequently asked questions